Track : Moses Extends Streak in Comeback Win

Olympic champion Edwin Moses made his long-awaited comeback Thursday night, winning the 400-meter hurdles in 48.89 seconds in his first race since 1984.

It was Moses’ 95th straight victory in a final. Counting heat victories, his streak is 110.

Moses, who has not lost a race since he was beaten by West Germany’s Harald Schmid in August of 1977, led all the way and finished more than a second ahead of runner-up Henry Amike of Nigeria. Amike’s time was 51.13.

The 30-year-old Moses, from Laguna Beach, Calif., has spent some time in Finland to prepare for the Grand Prix events in Europe.

Moses, who set his world record of 47.02 in 1983 and holds the 10 fastest 400-meter hurdles times ever run, had not raced since August of 1984.

“I had problems with a knee injury and then I hurt my back,” Moses said. “But I feel very well now and I haven’t had any problems during preseason training.”

Steve Ovett, Britain’s former world record-holder in the mile and the 1,500 meters, outkicked Steve Scott of the United States to win the 3,000 meters in 7:51.43 seconds. Scott’s time was 7:52.42, ahead of Tommy Ekblom of Finland in 7:53.50. Fourth was Sydney Maree in 7:55.94.

Other American winners included Jimmy Howard and Mary Knisely. Howard won the high jump with a leap of 7 feet 6 1/2 inches, finishing ahead of West German Carlo Tranhardt, 7-5 3/4, and Knisely won the women’s 1,500 meters in 4:11.94.

Mark McKoy of Canada won the 110-meter hurdles in an excellent time of 13.39 seconds; Frank O’Mara of Ireland took the 1,500 in 3:38.93, and Chidi Imoh of Nigeria won the 100-meter dash in 10.33.